Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom. — Aristotle · Smartyfair

Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.

Aristotle384–322 BC · philosopher · Ancient GreeceAristotle was an ancient Greek philosopher who studied nearly everything — biology, physics, poetry, and politics — and organized knowledge in ways that shaped science for centuries.70 quotes

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In plain words

Understanding yourself is where being wise starts.

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Where these words come from

How sure this is: 33% sureLots of sources credit Aristotle with this, and they agree with each other. The book or the speech it first came from hasn't turned up yet.
What turned up: Does not appear anywhere on Wikiquote's Aristotle page. Commonly and inconsistently attributed across Aristotle, Plato, and Laozi, and often conflated with the Delphic/Socratic maxim "Know thyself."
Sources checked: en.wikiquote.orgChecked using claude-sonnet-5, 20 August 2026

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More from Aristotle

The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet.

Aristotle The greatest thing by far is to have a command of metaphor.

Aristotle Without friends no one would choose to live, though he had all other goods.

Aristotle Nature makes nothing in vain.

Aristotle so too we become just by doing just acts, temperate by doing temperate acts, brave by doing brave acts.

Aristotle And in loving a friend men love what is good for themselves; for the good man in becoming a friend becomes a good to his friend.

More on wisdom

In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.

Sun Tzu The wound is the place where the light enters you.

Rumi You have power over your mind, not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.

Marcus Aurelius Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one.

Marcus Aurelius An unexamined life is not worth living.

Socrates Wonder is the feeling of a philosopher, and philosophy begins in wonder.